Patents by Inventor Joanna M. Robertson
Joanna M. Robertson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240026493Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method comprising determining an ore map for a heap to identify a location of a recoverable metal-bearing material in the heap, wherein the metal-bearing material comprises iron and at least one other metal value, delivering a leaching solution from a leaching solution source to a leaching solution regulating system, wherein the leaching solution comprises an effective amount of citric acid and hydrogen peroxide, regulating at least one of a pressure, a mass flow rate, or a volumetric flow rate of the leaching solution to achieve a target operational condition, wherein the target operational condition is selected to optimize a set of operational parameters to maximize recovery of the at least one other metal value, delivering the leaching solution at the target operational condition from the leaching solution regulating system to the subsurface leaching distribution system, and delivering the leaching solution at the target operational condition from the subsurface leaching dType: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Sarah Lyons, Joanna M. Robertson, Casey J. Clayton, Richard Melecio Sanchez, Raquel Crossman, Luciano Kiniti Issoe, Tianfang Ni, Oleksandr Klesov, Luke Gerdes, Muneeb Alam, Chase Zenner, John Warren Dean, JR.
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Publication number: 20240026492Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method comprising determining an ore map for a heap to identify a location of a recoverable metal value in the heap, delivering a leaching solution from a leaching solution source to a leaching solution regulating system, regulating at least one of a pressure, a mass flow rate, or a volumetric flow rate of the leaching solution to achieve a first target operational condition, wherein the first target operational condition is selected to optimize a set of operational parameters to maximize recovery of the recoverable metal value, delivering the leaching solution at the first target operational condition from the leaching solution regulating system to a subsurface leaching distribution system, and delivering the leaching solution at the first target operational condition from the subsurface leaching distribution system to the location of the recoverable metal value under a surface of the heap to leach and recover at least one metal value.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Casey J. Clayton, Richard Melecio Sanchez, Raquel Crossman, Luciano Kiniti Issoe, Tianfang Ni, Oleksandr Klesov, Luke Gerdes, Muneeb Alam, Joanna M. Robertson, Chase Zenner, John Warren Dean, JR.
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Patent number: 10767242Abstract: A system and method for recovering a metal value from a metal-bearing ore material are provided. A metal-bearing ore can be mixed with certain substances and to form an agglomerated ore. In an intermediate state, between agglomeration and heap formation, bacteria can be added to the metal-bearing ore material to produce an augmented ore. The augmented ore can then be formed into a heap. Bacteria from the heap may be fortified to assist in bacterial growth.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2019Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M Robertson, Christine Rae Green, Gabriel Elias Bowman
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Patent number: 10662502Abstract: Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and an ammonia leach medium, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce an loaded aqueous stream.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M Robertson, Thomas R Bolles, Dennis D Gertenbach
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Publication number: 20190284657Abstract: A system and method for recovering a metal value from a metal-bearing ore material are provided. A metal-bearing ore can be mixed with certain substances and to form an agglomerated ore. In an intermediate state, between agglomeration and heap formation, bacteria can be added to the metal-bearing ore material to produce an augmented ore. The augmented ore can then be formed into a heap. Bacteria from the heap may be fortified to assist in bacterial growth.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M Robertson, Christine Rae Green, Gabriel Elias Bowman
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Patent number: 10370738Abstract: A system and method for recovering a metal value from a metal-bearing ore material are provided. A metal-bearing ore can be mixed with certain substances and to form an agglomerated ore. In an intermediate state, between agglomeration and heap formation, bacteria can be added to the metal-bearing ore material to produce an augmented ore. The augmented ore can then be formed into a heap. Bacteria from the heap may be fortified to assist in bacterial growth.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2013Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M Robertson, Christine Rae Green, Gabriel Elias Bowman
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Publication number: 20190177864Abstract: Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, and leaching the roasted metal bearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2019Publication date: June 13, 2019Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M. Robertson, Thomas R. Bolles, Wayne W. Hazen, Lawrence D. May, Jay C. Smith, David R. Baughman
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Patent number: 10246789Abstract: Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, and leaching the roasted metal bearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M Robertson, Thomas R Bolles, Wayne W Hazen, Lawrence D May, Jay C Smith, David R Baughman
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Publication number: 20180298505Abstract: Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and an ammonia leach medium, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce an loaded aqueous stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M Robertson, Thomas R Bolles, Dennis D Gertenbach
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Patent number: 10006133Abstract: Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and an ammonia leach medium, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce a loaded aqueous stream.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M Robertson, Thomas R Bolles, Dennis D Gertenbach
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Publication number: 20160230296Abstract: Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, and leaching the roasted metal bearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2016Publication date: August 11, 2016Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M. Robertson, Thomas R. Bolles, Wayne W. Hazen, Lawrence D. May, Jay C. Smith, David R. Baughman
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Patent number: 9340849Abstract: Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, and leaching the roasted metal bearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2012Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M Robertson, Thomas R Bolles, Wayne W Hazen, Lawrence D May, Jay C Smith, David R Baughman
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Publication number: 20160068977Abstract: Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and an ammonia leach medium, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce an loaded aqueous stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2015Publication date: March 10, 2016Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M. Robertson, Thomas R. Bolles, Dennis D. Gertenbach
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Patent number: 9187803Abstract: Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and an ammonia leach medium, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce an loaded aqueous stream.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M Robertson, Thomas R Bolles, Dennis D Gertenbach
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Patent number: 9175366Abstract: Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and a leach medium comprising ammonia and ammonium carbonate, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce an loaded aqueous stream.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M Robertson, Thomas R Bolles, Dennis D Gertenbach
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Publication number: 20150225809Abstract: A system and method for recovering a metal value from a metal-bearing ore material are provided. A metal-bearing ore can be mixed with certain substances and to form an agglomerated ore. In an intermediate state, between agglomeration and heap formation, bacteria can be added to the metal-bearing ore material to produce an augmented ore. The augmented ore can then be formed into a heap. Bacteria from the heap may be fortified to assist in bacterial growth.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2013Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: Freeport Minerals CorporationInventors: Joanna M Robertson, Christine Rae Green, Gabriel Elias Bowman
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Patent number: 8920773Abstract: Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, leaching the roasted metal hearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution, conditioning the pregnant leach solution to thrill a preprocessed metal bearing material; and leaching the preprocessed metal bearing material in acid medium.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Freeport Minerals CorporationInventors: Joanna M. Robertson, Thomas R. Bolles, Wayne W. Hazen, Lawrence D. May, Jay C. Smith, David R. Baughman
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Publication number: 20140260806Abstract: Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and an ammonia leach medium, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce an loaded aqueous stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M. Robertson, Thomas R. Bolles, Dennis D. Gertenbach
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Publication number: 20140260807Abstract: Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and a leach medium comprising ammonia and ammonium carbonate, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce an loaded aqueous stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATIONInventors: Joanna M. Robertson, Thomas R. Bolles, Dennis D. Gertenbach
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Patent number: 8012318Abstract: A system and process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material to produce high quality cathode copper from a leach solution without the use of copper solvent/solution extraction techniques or apparatus. A process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore generally includes the steps of providing a feed stream containing comminuted copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material, leaching the feed stream to yield a copper-containing solution, conditioning the copper-containing solution through one or more physical or chemical conditioning steps, and electrowinning copper directly from the copper-containing solution in multiple electrowinning stages, without subjecting the copper-containing solution to solvent/solution extraction prior to electrowinning.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2010Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Freeport-McMoran CorporationInventors: John O Marsden, Robert E Brewer, Susan R Brewer, Joanna M Robertson, David R Baughman, Philip Thompson, Wayne W Hazen, Christel M. A. Bemelmans